Kazim Rashti

Kazim Rashti (1793-1843) was the leader of the Shaykhi sect of Twelver Shi'ism from 1834 to 1843, succeeding Shaykh Ahmad.

Biography
Kazim Rashti was born in Rasht, Persia in 1793, the son of Sayyid Qasim; he came from a family of well-known merchants. He became a follower of Shaykh Ahmad, and, after studying Islamic writings as a mullah, he told his students about the coming of the Mahdi and the return of Jesus, telling his students how to recognize them. After his death in 1843, his students spread out around Asia, Europe, and Africa for the search, and one of his students, the Bab, founded Babism.